Snowboard Balancing Act — Jake Maddox

For twelve-year-old Bristol, being on the slopes means ultimate freedom. As an adaptive snowboarder and a junior instructor, the upcoming PowderX Games are a chance to show her parents how serious she is about the sport. But juggling boarding and teaching with homework and vision therapy for her vergence insufficiency is harder than Bristol thought. When her parents announce that she’ll have to drop some of her snowboarding commitments if she doesn’t do well on an important exam, Bristol is determined to prove that she can do it all. On the day of the Games, it takes a reminder from one of her students—and a tough personal choice—to help Bristol figure out the perfect balance both on and off the slopes.